Monday, May 12, 2014

Here is a little nugget of cuteness. He is eating and growing well. I have been in contact with the guys. One of their mothers is ill and is in the hospital. They have been balancing caring for both Jeremias and the their mama. It sounds like they are handling everything with an incredible amount of grace and patience.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Jeremias is finally home in Argentina with his daddies. They all arrived home this weekend. He will be meeting LOTS of family and friends over the coming days. Jermeias is busy making sure his dads are REALLY sleep deprived. I sure do miss these boys! I hope contact will continue and we will share our lives for years to come. :)

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

All the boys will be leaving the area tomorrow. We saw them on Sunday at their hotel and they are coming to our home this evening for dinner. They just sent this captured moment to me from our visit on Sunday. I love these guys and will miss them.

Monday, April 14, 2014

I was scheduled for a c-section on Friday, APril 11th. On Wednesday, April 9th, I woke up feeling a bit crampy and tired. I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions like crazy, so thought nothing of being crampy. I rested on the couch mid morning and about 10:50 AM, I used the bathroom. I had bright red, bloody show. Whenever I have lost my mucous plug in the past, it was just pink tinged. I wondered if it may be a hemmorhoidal issue, but after going to the bathroom a couple more times, I determined it was not. I was having crampiness, but no REAL contractions. I called my OB clinic who said to come on in and get monitored and checked.

I made arrangements for my kids, Brian came home, and went with me. I started timing my "cramps" which had seemed to be getting more regular, but still nothing that seemed intense. On the way up to the clinic, they were spaced 4-7 minutes apart and I started to slightly pause and take notice.

We arrived at the OB clinic. They hooked me up to the monitor.

I had felt Jeremias moving earlier in the day, but there was not any action from him at the clinic, so they gave me some grape juice and buzzed (sound and vibration) my belly with some instrument to get him woke up. He started moving about and contractions started being a bit more intense. My blood pressure was a little high. My vaginal discharge was no longer bright red, more brownish. They decided to send me over to Labor and Delivery to get a bag of fluid, thinking maybe I was a bit dehydrated and not even in active labor.

Soon after arriving in L&D, they got the IV in, I continued to have contractions.

The nurse checked me - I was dilated to 4. 15 minutes later, the OB checked me - I was dilated to 5. She determined I would be staying. The anesthesiologist came in and discussed our options for surgery. Because I had that grape juice at the clinic, I would need to wait till I could get the spinal for the c-sections surgery. I could also just be put to sleep. AN hour later, the doctor checked me again, I was dilated to 8. I had no choice - I was going to be knocked out to have this baby/ c-section surgery. They paged the anesthesiologist and started prepping me for surgery. The contractions were VERY uncomfortable.I remember being bumped into walls being wheeled into the OR room. The contractions were crazy. They wanted me to transfer from 1 bed to the operating table - I did quickly between very close contractions. The contractions kept coming intense with no time between. They asked me to open and relax my legs to place a catheter. I was screaming like a primal wild animal at this point. When they finally forced my legs open to start putting a catheter, the doctor said there would be no time, I was just going to have to push - he was right there. WHAT?????!!!!!! I was pushing away from the table with my legs, trying to escape this crazy situation I was in. There were several people trying to help me, forcing my legs up and my chin to my chest, but I was delirious and did not know what the hell to do. Finally, I felt his head crowning, I realized what I had to do, and concentrated on proper pushing. I FELT EVERYTHING! His head stretching me and coming out, his shoulders and body, then the placenta. OMG!! Then I was fine. :) I was in disbelief at what happened. I still kind of am. :) I can say that recovery is A LOT different from what I expected to be having, that is for sure! I am tired, but feel great!

I told Brian that if I was unable to care for Jeremias until his daddies arrived, he HAD to hold him. Jeremias was not going to be placed alone in the nursery. He only had to do this a few minutes while I got monitored and cleaned up.

Here he is!

Look at that hair!

what a sweetie!

The guys rushed to get here. They had been in NYC doing touristy things with one of their moms. They got an earlier flight and arrived ASAP, getting to us around 3 AM - 8 hours after Jeremias was born. I got to act as temporary mommy until the guys arrived. I enjoyed this time.

Video of them coming in. :) So excited and happy for them.

handing over the responsibility of this precious life

I LOVE this first pic of the new family.

this is another one of my favorites! filled with joy!

handing over to grandma for the 1st time

fingerprints

this is my schedule all planned out.....notice it is crossed off up to Wednesday. I was supposed to have a couple more days! That lil' guy did not follow the plan!

I pumped while at the hospital and provided the liquid gold that is colostrum.

Proud, tired daddies

Discharge day

grateful grandmas

We made a great team! Love these guys!

I was discharged on Friday. I went to visit the guys and Jeremias at their hotel on Sunday. My mom, husband, and kids came along and we said our good-byes (for now). Another amazing experience!

Sunday, April 13, 2014

I am going to lose 10 more pounds after I start pooping. I haven't gone since delivery. That is 13 meals in there people!

If you like pea soup scented perfume, apply peas in their original grocery store bag to engorged, swollen, feverish breasts. The juice oozes/leaks out of the bag and perfumes the skin perfectly. Otherwise, add another protective layer like a Ziploc bag. ;)

Friday, April 11, 2014

Jeremias was to arrive via scheduled c-section on Friday, April 11th. He made a dashing sprint into the world on Wednesday evening, leaving this gestational surrogate with an unmedicated VBAC delivery!

Enrique and Ricardo arrived 8 hours after their son's birth. Look at the love and joy in this picture. I so wish the photograph was more clear and crisp, but it still captures the beginning of a wonderful journey of fatherhood for them.

I have more pictures, but will post them and more details later this weekend as I am tired. :)

Friday, April 4, 2014

Department of Housing: Surrogacy Division
EVICTION NOTICE
Tenant must vacate the premises by APril 11, 2014.
Other living arrangements have been made and eagerly await your arrival.
Sincerely,
The Management

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

I have been sorting through all kinds of emotions.....dealing with end of pregnancy uncomfortableness, but, knowing this is my LAST pregnancy is bittersweet. I am excited to move on to other adventures, but am sad this is the last time I will be using my body to grow life. The finality of it has been making me have such a mix of emotions. I am incredibly grateful to have been able to do it this one last time.The baby will be taken Friday, APril 11th unless he decides to appear early.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

One day, AT LEAST 20-25 years from now, I look forward to seeing my daughter become a mother herself. Maybe we can recreate this photo one day, but SHE will have the growing life inside her and me beside her, old and retired from this sort of thing. I love full circle of life photos......

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Everything is looking good. Jeremias was hiccuping during the procedure - very cute seeing him bounce as he hiccuped. The technician said he has hair already! Jeremias had a heart rate of 139, he was measuring at 34 weeks, he got an 8/8 on the biophysical profile, he is at 52% growth, and estimated to weigh 5 pounds 6 ounces. My blood pressure was 124/76.

I received the pertussis/whopping cough vaccine. I also had my TSH (thyroid) blood work today.

My insurance will cover a breast pump - my Dr. said one would be given to me in the hospital. I will pump as much breast milk as I can while the parents are here. I will have to consider options after they leave...donation?

As for the guys staying in an adjoining hospital room, that decision will need to be made last minute as the hospital will need to see about availability. If something is available, they can stay. Otherwise, they will be able to stay in my room on the couch and chair to ensure that they are caring for Jeremias overnight.

My Dr. scheduled the c-section for Friday, April 11th.

I have to start going to more appts. since it is getting close. 2 weeks, then every week until delivery. Life is good. I am tired and dealing with tailbone pain and acid reflux, but really, life is good.

I am feeling lots of emotions, ups AND downs about the finality of this being my FINAL pregnancy. I am ready to concentrate on other things in my life, but still grieve at the finality of this stage of life. Hopefully, in 20-25 years, I will be blessed with many grandchildren and get to experience children being born once again. :)

My family

Welcome to my surrogacy blog!

Hi. My name is Carla. I am married to Brian. We have been married almost 10 years. We had 3 children in 2.5 years: Gareth (6-06), Zane (9-07), and Iris (1-09). Brian works as a web programmer. I used to be a social worker for people with developmental disabilities, but now stay home with our children.

In June 2009, we moved from a nice, cookie cutter subdivision to a humble, little, farm house, on 10 acres, in rural east central Illinois. We are interested in living a simpler life moving towards self sufficiency. We are interested in homesteading, gardening, beekeeping, and atheism/secular humanism/skepticism. I am a crafter of all sorts of creations - love to sew and quilt, and have many other interests, including weaving, pottery, painting, scrapbooking, among other things.

Our family feels complete - we are very done having babies for ourselves! My husband had a vasectomy to ensure that we would not be surprised with another baby.

I started thinking about becoming a gestational surrogate during my second pregnancy. The feelings I had did not fade, so here we are now. We were lucky enough to conceive quickly/naturally and have "easy" pregnancies. I have friends and have read about many people that have fertility issues and it does not come so easily for them. It saddens me that they can not fulfill their dreams. I was able to help a couple complete their family, delivering a baby girl, in December 2011. I am now on my second and final journey, helping 2 men from Argentina become daddies, with additional help from an egg donor.

Feel free to ask any questions. I tend to be an open book as long as there is genuine, sincere, respectful interest.